Dickens Festival Returns February 21-23
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – The celebrated Riverside Dickens Festival will return to downtown Riverside next week, boasting entertainment reminiscent of Victorian-era London and the life and times of author Charles Dickens.
Most of the 32nd annual fest’s activities will be held Saturday, Feb. 22, and Sunday, Feb. 23, in White Park, at the intersection of Chestnut and 10th streets.
“Step back in time and join us for a magical journey to the Victorian era at the Riverside Dickens Festival,” according to DickensFest.com. “Enjoy immersive historical re-enactments, captivating performances, literary discussions and interactive workshops that celebrate Victorian life here and in England. This event promises fun and educational experiences for all ages.”
The unofficial opening of the festival will take place the night of Friday, Feb. 21, at First Congregational Church, 3504 Mission Inn Ave. The exclusive event, titled “An Evening in a Victorian Pub,” will include ale, wine, barbecue meatballs, “Les Folies Rouge” and “The Trial of Mr. Pickwick” — a character from Dickens’ 1836 novel, “The Pickwick Papers.”
The main fare will get underway Saturday morning in White Park, where an “Authors’ Salon” will be on display, featuring the works of Jane Austen, Edgar Allan Poe, Oscar Wilde, Sir Richard Burton and others performed by actors. There will additionally be parades, live music and whodunit mysteries to solve.
Toward the end of each day, “Knighting Ceremonies” presided over by Queen Victoria and her royal retinue are planned. Merchants will additionally be selling food and wares that resemble a 19th century London bazaar, interspersed with caroling, dancing and games.
Last February, the hosting venue was the Jensen Alvarado Historic Ranch & Museum, near Flabob Airport in Jurupa Valley. The decision to relocate the event from its traditional place along the Main Street pedestrian mall, between Mission Inn Avenue and 11th Street in Riverside, was cost-driven.
Organizers said setting up security barriers and cordoning off streets required paying escalating municipal fees that the fest couldn’t afford. The Alvarado Historic Ranch & Museum, part of the Riverside County Park & Open Space District, offered a more economical option.
Access to White Park will require tickets for admission, which can be purchased at events.humanitix.com/2025-rdfwhitepark.
The fest was nearly nixed completely in February 2021 amid the COVID lockdowns, but organizers managed to throw together a virtual presentation featuring profiles of Dickens’ stories online.
In-person activities returned in February 2022.
More information is available at http://dickensfest.com/.
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